Air support base

An air support base (air support command base for those bases designated for the "five air support command headquarters"[1]:136a--I, II, III, IV, V Air Support Commands*) were dozens of United States Army Air Forcesmilitary installations created near Continental United States camps/forts of the Army Ground Forces. The bases were developed as part of the "air support base development program" when National Guard observation squadrons inducted into federal service in 1940-1941 had insufficient facilities to conduct their training. In 1941 HQ USAAF had an Air Ground Support Section which had documented Air Support Base Requirements and on 1 December 1942, the AAF published the entire Station List for support bases.[2]

In 1943, most of the air support bases transferred to 3rd Air Force when it gained the air support commands.[3] Several of the air support bases that were inactivated after World War II were resurrected for Cold War operations.

^ abcFutrell, Robert F. (July 1947). Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States: 1939-1945 (Report). ARS-69: US Air Force Historical Study No 69 (Copy No. 2). Air Historical Office. Air Support Sec., Air Force Combat Comd., 73-74, 135-36

^ ab"AAF, Station List, 1 Dec. 1942; AAF, Air Ground Support Sect., Air Support Base Requirements, 1942-1943" (both cited by Futrell p. 138, which has the entire list)